What is the midnight sun

During the Norwegian summer season, the sun never sets north of the Arctic Circle and for a couple of months the sun is visible 24 hours a day.

The phenomenon is caused by the tilt in the Earth´s axis – an imaginary line through the planet between the north and south poles around which it rotates. As the Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt makes the North Pole face towards the Sun in summer (keeping it in sunlight even as the Earth spins) and away from it in winter (keeping it dark). Hence the continuous sunlight during the summer.

24 hours of daylight gives the flora and fauna along the coast an energy boost. This is likely to rub off on visitors as well, so why not use the extra energy to experience some of the many midnight sun activities available throughout Northern Norway?

From coastal towns and fishing villages, a variety of guided boat trips are possible. Whale, seal and fishing safaris will take you up close to some of the largest sea creatures whilst reindeer watching in Finnmark or guided bird watching trips from Stø will show you how our four-legged and feathered friends react to the midnight sun.

These same small coastal communities are also great for people watching as well as eating and drinking in a variety of cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants offering various fare including superb local seafood. Locals in Northern Norway are usually friendly, laid back and happy to engage with visitors who are respectful of the environment. So don´t be shy, nearly everyone speaks passable English so why not just start a conversation with people you meet and hear about some of their best midnight sun experiences?

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